"It's brilliant" sounds too British to my American ears, but "It's genius" has an all too familiar ring. The word is endemic in Silicon Valley, from Apple's Genius Bars to "Valley of Genius" (a 2018 history of the tech industry) to Startup Genius, a platform that "empowers entrepreneurs." The genius overkill will only get worse with the passage of the GENIUS Act (Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins).
I am guessing that what grates is really the availability of the adjective, ingenious. My suspicion is that people heard ingenious and in their fast minds shortened it in a colloquial manner, leading to what is really a sort of malapropism.
For some reason "It's genius" doesn't bother me, but Jeffrey's point about "ingenious" is a good one. But I am bothered by people who are just smart, or even just brilliant, being called a genius. The original meaning, which I find useful, has been watered down. As Nancy put it, although perhaps in a different context, "genius overkill." And I'll second Beth's compliment!
"It's wonderful" and "it's fantastic" sound pretty good to me. Not "genius" but not bad. ChatGPT suggested "genius-level". I think that would be an excellent replacement for "It's genius."
"It's brilliant" sounds too British to my American ears, but "It's genius" has an all too familiar ring. The word is endemic in Silicon Valley, from Apple's Genius Bars to "Valley of Genius" (a 2018 history of the tech industry) to Startup Genius, a platform that "empowers entrepreneurs." The genius overkill will only get worse with the passage of the GENIUS Act (Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins).
I am guessing that what grates is really the availability of the adjective, ingenious. My suspicion is that people heard ingenious and in their fast minds shortened it in a colloquial manner, leading to what is really a sort of malapropism.
I loved getting to follow your reasoning here, Barbara. You are good at explaining and not being rigid. A lesson for us all.
For some reason "It's genius" doesn't bother me, but Jeffrey's point about "ingenious" is a good one. But I am bothered by people who are just smart, or even just brilliant, being called a genius. The original meaning, which I find useful, has been watered down. As Nancy put it, although perhaps in a different context, "genius overkill." And I'll second Beth's compliment!
"It's wonderful" and "it's fantastic" sound pretty good to me. Not "genius" but not bad. ChatGPT suggested "genius-level". I think that would be an excellent replacement for "It's genius."
Tom